$20K Invested to Start an Auto Repair Shop (Did it Work?)

The consistent customer demand for high-quality auto repair makes a mechanic business a great recession-proof option for aspiring entrepreneurs. Lucky Sing started his car repair business, Lucky’s Auto Repair, with $20,000 in 2016.

Now, he’s bringing in a revenue of more than $40,000 every month, and in this interview, he’s telling our viewers how he achieved that impressive growth.

Lucky worked a traditional 9 to 5 job before starting Lucky’s Auto Repair. He was looking for a career that would give him more of a challenge, and he found that by opening his own mechanic shop. His ability to build and lead a strong team has been a big driver of his company’s growth. In this interview, he’ll share his strategies to find and hire the best talent, along with his advice for other business leaders on how to get the most out of the team you build.

Something else an auto repair shop absolutely needs to succeed is customer trust. We’ll find out where Lucky learned his car repair skills and how he ensures consistent quality and knowledge depth across his team. We’ll also delve into the nuts and bolts of how much it costs to run an auto shop, and find out if the shop’s 10% profit margins are what a new auto shop should target when setting its rates.

Whether you own your own auto shop or are thinking about starting one, you’ll learn a lot of helpful tips from this video! And make sure you check out our other interviews with auto industry business owners:

Sheepey Race: From Side Hustle to $7 Million a Year Tuning Cars ►

Auto Business interview playlist ►

Resources:

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:11 How Lucky Got Into The Business
2:38 Most Profitable Services
3:28 Creative Marketing Strategies
4:54 How To Get Started TODAY
6:26 Essentials You Need To Begin
7:50 How To Set Yourself Up For Success
8:54 Deep Dive Into Lucky’s Work
11:03 How Lucky Stands Out Over Competitors
12:27 Systems and Processes
14:19 Let’s Talk Numbers
15:27 Key Factors to Picking a Location
16:31 Advice on How To Scale
18:41 Building a Team
20:26 Learn This Trick with Taxes
21:42 Blitz Time with Lucky!
23:13 Overcoming Challenges
24:16 The Importance of Reviews
25:17 Key To Pricing
26:14 How Lucky Funded His Business
28:17 Necessary Skills To Start
29:14 How To Break Even
30:31 Management Tips
31:18 What Busy Months Are Like
32:42 Why a Website is Important
33:48 Key Resources
35:36 Valuable Training
36:33 The Future of Lucky’s
37:35 How To Avoid This Mistake

#mechanic #carrepair #autorepair

[georgef]

The absolute biggest plus for this shop is being on his own property. If you can go this route then definitely do it. Also Lucky seems to be a great boss/owner, easy going nice people always is a must. This guy will continue to grow.

[txsancho]

He hit every point most of us mechanics struggled with. Flat rate wasn't too bad but quality would take a hit, people would stress when they were under, working a 70hr job and warranty only paying you 42 was rough. Getting paid on days we couldn't even drive to the shop was un heard of. Getting paid hourly with a bonus system is a major plus. Love to see it! Keep on rocking on Lucky!

[jdtv...]

Developing a relationship with the customers probably one of the most important. They will tell their friends and family members so on and so forth how great of a person you are. All of my bbb awards we're based on such transparency

[edwinochoa]

He gave you the best business advice in the beginning, “ profit close to zero”

IRS is kicking and screaming right now 😂

[akiyajapan]

I read recently "No outside change can really take root without an inner change, " so I'd like to hear more personal-related answers from these people about their previous failures and how they overcame them.

[ateupjacob]

I just wanted to say props to lucky! Created a way for himself in a saturated difficult industry and it’s very respectable.

[crashm]

I take issue with his start up cost estimate. To outfit a garage to repair modern cars from bumper to bumper is going to be closer to 60K in tooling - factory scan tools for your top three car lines, AC machines, wallet flushing machines, a variety of timing alignment tools and the like plus another 40 to 80 in shop equipment like lifts, air compressors, fluid dispensers, jacks, snad blasting cabinets and parts washers, service information systems and such. Add another 40K if you buy a used alignment rack and new Hunter or John Bean system.
I also have some issues with his thinking his high margin jobs are the engine swaps. They are massive time sucks with low profit margins on the parts as well. Give me half a dozen brake jobs and scheduled maintenance services any day of the week. The bay turns over faster and that drives up effective labor rates and gross profit.

[rudyjhughes]

A 10k somewhat quality lift is 5000+, a r134a machine is 4000+, a 134a machine is 600”+. A decent scan tool is 4500, a box full of tools is well over 20k. I have no clue where he got that number from as I own/operate a shop.

[audi_kid]

As a 10 year Audi & Porsche dealer tech this is awesome!!! I’d go back to turning wrenches 🔧🤘🏼 Mad respect how lucky runs the shop!! 💯

[Pablomcdubbin]

This YouTube channel is very underrated, there's great info in every video. And im noticing some common trends among all the owners

[almostproper]

Great information, Lucky's aproach of owner, worker, ceo is top notch. Keeping your employees happy and involved in there own skill set and growing is amazing. Salary is great and so if quality. I wish more owners in the automotive industry use your strategy.

[bbailey]

Great Chanel! I'm Veteran tired of allowing poor managers, and degrading workplace business management that is driving me to follow my passion. The Information shared in this videl alone has truly made an impact and lit a fire under me to pursue my passion! Thank you!

[yabasta]

Good video. They really talk about some of the more complicated aspects of running a business that a shop might encounter

[Clan-Scotland]

This has been my living for the past 20 years. I find people get put off starting this business due to a lack of mechanical experience and that works in my favour. I own 3 shops now never touched a tool in my life when i started. One unit and one mechanic on the payroll with me as the labourer. He now manages my whole business.

[JoelxCruz]

That’s great! He’s doing amazing! The shop I used to work at in Chicago called Lincoln Park Import service generates about 80k-100k a month on cars. The system the owner a friend of mine designed to pay off the place in 2 years at 1.5 mil then fix it all up after 2-3 years about now it’s all profits no lease or mortgage to pay. They have 4 lifts. He also allowed us to work on side jobs after work any day of the week for free. I think they stopped doing tires and focus’s on the more mechanical sides of the cars. Their lot only fits about 8-10 cars so every car has to be out by Friday-Saturday and on Saturday the owner is there for the new cars coming in for the start of the week on Monday. Sat-Sun everyone is off. Monday-Friday 8-6pm

[jamesmedina]

Lucky is a great, honest guy. I love his volumes of transparent tips.

[DAZZA]

I’ve been watching a few of these videos you guys make i really really really enjoy them.the person doing the interviewing ask really great questions!!!! So informative and very very inspiring which I find is really rare.and it’s easy to understand and follow it’s all done very calmly no jumping around and loud music.very good easy to follow format great links.keep up the amazing awesome job you guys are doing 👍😊✅✅👌

[othmana]

just wanted to say what an amazing channel this the amount of useful knowledge here is insane.... thanks alot and keep it up!

[mjpm]

You truly deserve more recognition for your work on this channel, thank you so much. Greetings from Perú!! :)

[kyledoornbosch]

I have a farm generator setup in the shop, since we can loss power quite regulate up north. It also allows costumers to hang out and stay warm when we are working on their cars